The International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) and the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) held its ninth annual Integrating GIS and CAMA (Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal) Conference February 15-18, 2005, in Savannah, Georgia.

The conference, the first of which was held in Savannah in 1997, brought the GIS and assessor communities together to foster collaboration and integration of data, technology, and functionality.

The educational program benefited the following professionals:

• Assessors and land records professionals who want to implement, improve, or expand their use of information technology (specifically GIS and CAMA) and other land records tools
• Managers of specific appraisal and assessment functions and land records technologies who are looking for new and improved information technology applications
• GIS managers who either are in, or serve, assessment and land records departments

In addition to the sessions on systems and data integration, management issues, modeling, and Internet and public access, there were sessions exploring toys and technology in which mobile and wireless applications were showcased. A plenary session by Kenneth Wilkinson, property appraiser, Lee County, Florida, discussed the 2004 hurricane devastation and impact on Florida. And an exhibit hall allowed attendees to "kick the tires" and check out the latest technology available to help make the appraisal process a more efficient and effective undertaking.

For complete program information, visit URISA (www.urisa.org) or IAAO (www.iaao.org).